Loss Prevention Investigator

JR United Kingdom; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company seeks a Loss Prevention Investigator to protect staff and assets in Southern England. The role involves advising managers on best practices for loss prevention and actively investigating cases of theft. The ideal candidate will possess experience in retail security, excellent communication skills, and a full UK driving licence. You will work with a dynamic team to ensure a safe shopping environment and help build a robust loss prevention strategy.

Benefits

Employee discounts at Waterstones

Friendly and dynamic team environment

Qualifications

• Significant experience dealing with shrink and crime resolution in retail.
• Knowledge of loss prevention policies and practices.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Identify potential risks/losses to reduce loss in the area.
• Provide guidance on loss prevention to various store managers.
• Investigate reported thefts and build cases for prosecution.

Skills

Communication

Analytical Thinking

Coaching

Negotiation

Tools

Microsoft Office

In-house transaction monitoring software

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

col-narrow-left

Client:

Waterstones

Location:

Job Category:

Other

-

EU work permit required:

Yes

col-narrow-right

Job Views:

2

Posted:

06.06.2025

Expiry Date:

21.07.2025

col-wide

Job Description:

Permanent

Based in Southern England (Brighton, Bluewater, Canterbury, Lakeside & Romford)

We are looking for a Loss Prevention Investigator to join our friendly and dynamic team here at Waterstones in the South of England. Looking after stores across the area including Brighton, Bluewater, Canterbury, Lakeside & Romford your role will be to protect staff, customers, property, and the business by ensuring that all physical security equipment is in working condition, following up on all workplace incidents and advising teams how best to respond to incidents that may involve violence. To deliver the Loss Prevention strategy as outlined by the Group Loss Prevention Manager.

What you will be doing

• To be a field based, security and shrink expert, working to identify potential risks/losses to reduce loss in your given area.
• As the Loss Prevention contact in your designated area, you will give advice and guidance to Regional Managers, Cluster Leaders, Bookshop Managers and Booksellers on all aspects of Loss Prevention.
• To prioritise and visit Waterstones, Foyles, and Blackwells stores in your remit on a need’s basis, based on risk to the business.
• You will reduce shrinkage and cash loss by identifying risk in stores and providing solutions, coaching and support to store teams.
• Proactively investigate reported thefts, data, and missing stock to identify and apprehend offenders. Building criminal cases resulting in arrest and prosecution of offenders.
• Use data and instore intelligence and Security Systems to identify and analyse trends and similarities across active cases and collaboratively work with the wider LPI team to glean and share information to identify and prosecute offenders.
• To establish professional working relationships with internal stakeholders, law enforcement and outside agencies to further reduce risk and loss to the business.
• Work in collaboration with Maintenance and Audit teams to ensure compliance and safety standards are consistently met.
• To complete all set tasks within the given timeframe and escalate identified issues in an appropriate and effective manner.
• To undertake other requests and projects as set by the Loss Prevention manager to support the Business Operation.

What we need from you

• Significant demonstrable experience dealing with shrink and crime resolution within a retail or Policing environment.
• Knowledge of loss prevention policies and practices.
• Knowledge of case building, the criminal justice system and its process, as well as judicial interventions: CBOs, civil recovery methods etc.
• IT literate - Efficient in using a variety of platforms and software, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, In-house transaction monitoring software and intelligence sharing programs.
• Knowledge on data mining best practises, industry standard investigation and interview techniques (PACE, WZ etc) preferable.
• Full UK driving licence.

Person Profile

• A clear, concise communicator, both written and verbally.
• Approachable and personable.
• Self-motivated.
• Ability to influence at all levels of the organisation, working to win hearts and minds.
• Able to manage own time and prioritise effectively.
• Inquisitive, calm, and professional approach.
• Ability to make decisions as needed with minimal supervision.
• Adaptable and resilient.
• Coachable and values development.

Why work for Waterstones

At Waterstones, everything we do is about our customers, and we work hard to provide them with the best possible shopping experience, one that will make them want to visit time and time again. We strive to consistently deliver fantastic customer service, whether recommending a book or a gift, keeping our shops beautifully stocked, helping out in our lovely Café W’s, or keeping the wheels turning efficiently behind the scenes. Working with us, you will get to use your expertise and enthusiasm to bring to our customers the irreplaceable pleasures of a good bookshop (including a virtual one).

In return, you will be working in a role that can make a real difference to Waterstones, work in a friendly and dynamic team and get to benefit from our excellent discount in shops and waterstones.com.

If you have the relevant essential experience and you are interested, we would love to hear from you.